Juz’ 27 – SŪRAT AL-RAḤMĀN (CHAPTER OF THE COMPASSIONATE)

Destruction Of The Universe
Before Qiyāmah

﴿ كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ۝   وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَـٰلِ وَالْإِكْرَام ﴾

Everyone who is on it will perish. But the Face of) your Lord
will remain, (the) Owner (of) Majesty and Honour. [55:26-27]

In the verse above, Allah f’s Face is mentioned. At times, Allah f’s Hand is mentioned.

These are known as Mutashābihāt – allegorical verses whose interpretation is known exclusively by Allah f. Nevertheless, in essence we can deduce that only He will remain and everyone else will perish.

In another verse, Allah f mentions:

﴿ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ﴾

Everything (will be) destroyed except His Face [28:88]

In this āyah, it is mentioned that everything will be destroyed. On the Day of Judgement, only Allah f will remain with His Might and Glory. The mankind, the Jinn, the animals and the universe will all be destroyed.

For a moment, focus and reflect upon the sun and moon. Allah f talks about these glorious creations in Sūrat al-Raḥmān, Allah f states:

﴿ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ ﴾

The sun and the moon move by precise calculation. [55:5]

Allah f also mentions in Sūrat Yāsīn:

﴿ وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِی لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ﴾

And the sun runs to a term appointed for it [36:38]

﴿ وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ﴾

 And the moon – We have ordained for it phases
until it returns like the old date stalk. [36:39]

Allah f talks about how the moon decreases and increases, how the sun and moon move with absolute precision. He informs us of the fact that the universe is running in order but on the Day of judgement everything will perish.  Regarding the sun, Allah fmentions:

﴿ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ ﴾

When the sun is wrapped up. [81:1]

Allah f mentions about the moon:

﴿ فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَرُ ۝   وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَرُ ﴾

So, when the vision is dazzled and the
moon becomes dark [75:7-8]

Look at the vast earth and the mountains, huge and glorious, yet they too will perish on the Day of Qiyāmah. Allah f says:

﴿ وَحُمِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً وّٰحِدَةً ﴾

And the earth and the mountains are lifted and
crushed (with) a single crushing. [69:14]

In another verse, Allah f says:

﴿ وَيَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْجِبَالِ فَقُلْ يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّى نَسْفًا ﴾

And they ask you about the mountains, so say,
 ‘My Lord will blast them into particles.’ [20:105]

In another verse, Allah f mentions:

﴿ وَتَكُونُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِ الْمَنفُوشِ ﴾

And the mountains will be like fluffed up wool. [101:5]

Allah f says:

﴿ فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا ﴾

So they become dust particles dispersing. [56:6]

Reflect upon how strong the mountains are – they were designed as pegs to prevent the earth from shaking. These powerful creations will cease to exist on the Day of Judgement. With regards to the sky, Allah f mentions:

﴿ وَمَا قَدَرُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُۥ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـٰمَةِ
وَالسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ مَطْوِيَّـٰتٌۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦ  ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ﴾

And they did not appraise Allah f with true appraisal, while the earth will be entirely in His Grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be
folded in His Right Hand. Glory be to Him! And High is He
above what they associate with Him. [39:67]

Allah f also mentions:

﴿ إِذَا السَّمَآءُ انشَقَّتْ ﴾

When the sky is split asunder. [84:1]

In another verse, He says:

﴿ فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ ﴾

Then when the heaven is split, and it becomes
rose-coloured like murky oil. [55:37]

It is stated in various Tafsīrs that the heavens will change into different colours due to the horrors of the Day of Judgement.

In another verse, Allah f mentions:

﴿ وَانشَقَّتِ السَّمَآءُ فَهِىَ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَّاهِيَةٌ ﴾

And the heaven will split, so it (is on) that Day frail. [69:16]

With regards to the seas and oceans, Allah f mentions in two similar verses:

﴿ وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ  ﴾

And when the seas are made to overflow. [81:6]

﴿ وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ ﴾

 And when the seas are made to gush forth. [82:3]

These are just some of the verses reminding us of the fact that everything that exists is in the control of Allah f. Allah freminds us of His Might and Power. In the end, only Allah f will remain. Allah f mentions:

﴿ إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ الْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ ﴾

Indeed, We will inherit the earth and whoever (is) on it,
and to Us they will be returned. [19:40]

May Allah f give us the ability to understand the reason for our creation. By not losing sight of what is to come on the Day of Judgement, we can strive to be the obedient slaves and perform every act with the intention of pleasing Allah f. Āmīn.